Best 40 to 50k used speakers

If you have the opportunity to audition the A5 , do it !!! 
I will also recommend YG Hailey , if you're tast is in the aluminum corner ...
Mine is ..

@eganmedia I completely agree with you, i care much more about the sound quality than the fancy look.That's why i'm also looking at brands like ATC and Spectral audio.

I can't imagine for 50K you could do much better from a performance perspective than a pair of brand new JBL M2s, their SUB18, and their matching amplifiers.  This assumes an existing room with good H:W:D ratios, properly properly constructed, damped and diffused.  I realize many audiophiles hear with their eyes every bit as much as, if not more than their ears.  If that's you, ignore this and just get the pretty ones. 

The Dutch and Dutch 8c  would work in a medium room. I really like mine , I would probably like the active ATC too.

@thieliste Well you soon get used to the size...in my eyes they're beautiful. You just have to spend some dollars on appropriate jewels to the wife :-)

Way too big for normal listening room.

https://pbnaudio.com/mr-777at/


Good Listening

Peter

@gosta I'm impressed at how you were able to fit a pair of 150s in your mid size listening room.You need some serious room treatment with these beasts.I'm gonna try to audition the 100 model as soon as possible.Cheers.

@thieliste I have the passive model 12 and 19 and the active 150 asl. I also have the Thiel 1.7, 2.2, 3.6, Ultima studio 2 and D& D 8c among others. Nothing I'm afraid really in my ears compares to the active 150. Might be because I listen from the bottom and up. Also sometimes at high spl's. So a very clearly defined bass/low mid is very important for me. And the 150 with the 15" woofer gives me that. Can't really say anything about passive 50's and 100's. Though I know the 110 is popular in studios. However, this is important, without digital amplitude and time correction it wouldn't be fun at all in my not too big room. I run Roon with (Acourate) convolution filters to a Matrix dac/pre.

https://www.marten.se/
Top quality gear worth looking into ... hardly anyone in the US has any on hand but EU should be a good possibility.
Ten years ago Audio Federation demoed different models Boulder, CO and RMAF.
Very nice ...

@gosta which model ATC do you have ?I'm looking at model 50 and 100 depending on room size, the 150 is way too big for most people.I would drive them with Spectral monoblocks therefore i should pick the passive ones ?

The ATC 15 inch woofer produces some magic that is hard to change for anything else. I’ve tried and am trying :-) Then you have the transparent mids. Maybe the highs could be bettered but that's not so important for me. And the possibility to play at thundering levels...

Coming from 23 years with Thiel speakers it's very difficult to like Magico or Wilson audio.I do like ATC type of sound and big TAD.Also not a fan of MBL even if i have the budget.

Me too thielist, hard to shake the Thiel sound once you have lived with it so long.

I will still give a chance to the Magico A5s never know.

Coming from 23 years with Thiel speakers it's very difficult to like Magico or Wilson audio.I do like ATC type of sound and big TAD.Also not a fan of MBL even if i have the budget.

Jump on a pair of MAGICO S5MK2 or M2 or even M3s ASAP be a big sport.

Ascendos, or MBLs. Since you're in Europe, go hear them.
Best I've heard.

TAD ref 1 is a good option thanks like them very much.

+1 for the MBL 101E Mk II.
I heard them at last year's Highend fair in Munich. It was so much better than anything else I heard so far. Couldn't resist and bought them meanwhile. You need serious amps to drive them, I have the Electrocompaniet AW600 Nemo and am happy with them.
However, it's difficult to get the MBLs used. I looked for a while and then gave up.

Focal utopia will be my number one pick 

TAD Ref 1.  Very versatile speaker.

@thieliste I am not a Vandersteen fan boy but I do currently own the  Vandersteen 5As.  I purchased mine for cheap so at my price I do not think there are many speakers that can compete.  I did get a chance to hear the Vandersteen Sevens from the person I purchased my 5As.  I did bring my DHT DAC that I design and build with me to hear the 5As.  When we plugged my DAC into the persons system with the Sevens, the sound was fantastic.  I knew what speaker I would want if I wanted to spend the money.  That would be my reference starting point. Go hear the Sevens and then you will have a starting point to hear other speakers.  Vandersteens have been around a long time and reselling them is no an issue.  You can save a few bucks and buy me a pair also!

Happy Listening. 

@8th-note , I just saw a pair of used MBL 101 for only about $15k in Sweden. Might be a little older model but the price seems very good.

And I agree that the MBL 101 are great speakers and probably a good buy used even for $35k.

Otherwise I might look for used Focal Utopia or Stenheims.

@gosta ATC is damn good with Spectral pre-power.

An (in the room) amplitude and time corrected ATC 150 asl is very hard to beat.

I'm in Europe, and have a Thrax Lyra / Bassus in that price range... Always welcome for a listening session (Antwerp/Belgium) 

@audioconnection  Well the only reason i would get back to Thiel CS 3.7s is if i purchased a Gryphon Antileon Evo and CH Precision L1 linestage.This is well within my budget since Thiel CS 3.7s only cost 6k used today.I still think i would get better performance with a much more modern combo like Borresen 03s driven by Audionet Humboldt integrated.

Vandersteen 7's. Will smoke any Magico and Wilson out there. 

needlebrush

... It started with the yuppies. So many of them wanted the BEST whatever. Blindfold tests scare the crap out of that crowd.

Please tell us about your experiences with blindfold tests.

I am SO tired of the never ending “ best” questions. It started with the yuppies. So many of them wanted the BEST whatever. Blindfold tests scare the crap out of that crowd. 

Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus.

I would say 2018 Porsche Macan Turbo with under 30,000 miles and performance package will be in your budget!

+1 erik_squires
" I kind of agree with the Vandersteens if you include their amps. :)"

Just listened to these a week or so ago.  Sounded kind of bland with a soft folk music recording.  But, boy oh boy, those woke up and played astonishing well on some hot jazz.  Yes, with the Vanady amps.

Regards,
barts

JBL 4350 monitors. Restored of course.
Now you know where my head is at.
https://twitter.com/garnishmusic/status/305413240509304832

If you were actually thinking about Wilsons.

Regards,
barts

+1
The A5 made a much more expensive Wilson sound like a boombox.
Even the dealer that was trying hard to sell the Wilson to me had to agree.  

@thieliste The Magico A5 has excellent price/performance with Herculean internal damping. At $22k it competes with $30k+ speakers.  

A new pair of Wilson Audio Sasha DAWs will far outperform any used speakers!!!!!

Id look for a pair of Von Scwweikert VR55 Aktives. Retail 60K I think. Should find used in your price range. Excellent adjustable bass, best tweeter that I have ever heard. I own them and all who hear like them.

If you're in Europe then try to get a listen to PMC MB2 -A se or the MB2se.

Are the Magico A5s that good ?

Room 15x21.I listen to pop-rock, electro, classical, blues, jazz and world music.

@thieliste

By the way i live in Europe not in the US ... Looking for something with the same refinement but a big step up (from the Thiel 3.7).

It will help to know how large your room is (will be) and your musical preferences...


Based on personal experience, the following speakers impressed me favourably playing large orchestral music & blues -- they all comfortably outperform the Thiel 3.7s great though they may be:

• Vivid Audio Giya series (1, 2, 3 depending on size of room)
• Magico M series (2, 3 or 6 depending on size of room)
• Wilson Alexia
• Devore Urangutan Reference
• Zellaton Stage or Plural (depending on room size)
  

Enjoy the search!

By the way i live in Europe not in the US.

Yes i sold my Thiel CS 3.7s, owned them for 5 years.Looking for something with the same refinement but a big step up.Thiel CS 3.7s are very difficult to beat when you drive them with a Gryphon Antileon Evo i can tell you.Right now i'm looking at Borresen 03s, YG Hailey 2.2s and Verity Sarastro lls.My room will be a dedicated listening room and i have a solid budget for pre-power, source and cables.

@douglas_schroeder

Are you a buyer, or just curious?

haha when i see these posts i laugh and think this exact same thing

btw, what is the best $250,000 speaker i can pick up used? always hunting for a bargain before bedtime

on and while you are at it, what is best $1,000,000 car I can buy second or third hand... i like to buy stuff that has already taken the depreciation hit... :)

The most impressive speakers I've heard to date at anything near your price range are MBL 101E Mk II. They are $70k new but I've never seen a used pair for sale.

I'm currently running a pair of CS6's. The MBL 101's are one of the few speakers I've heard that I could be confident would be an upgrade from my Thiels.

Voxativ 9.87